Rake



March 30, 1937. s. P. NEUHAUSEN BAKE Filed Dec. 9,

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rakes.

One object of the invention is to provide a rake having tines formed in integral pairs which can 5 be assembled and secured in a cross head in a simple and economical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rake comprising a cross head having front and rear anges through openings in which ilexible tines extend and which enable the tines to flex in use throughout the length of the tines.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken top plan View of a rake embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line lI-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective View illustrating a pair of integral tine members.

In the drawing, It) indicates generally a cross head of sheet metal having a front flange II and a rear flange I2. The flanges are apertured to receive the tines indicated generally by the numeral I3 which, as shown in Figure 5, are formed in integral pairs of spring wire. As shown in Figure 5, the individual tines I3a`are united integrally by a bight I4, thus forming a U-shaped or hairpin shaped structure, the closed end of which is thereafter folded over the tines, but in spaced relation with respect thereto. The flanges I I and I2 are provided with aligned vertical slots I5 and I6 respectively, the slots I5 as shown in Figure 3 being enlarged somewhat at their upper ends. To insert the tines in position, the U- shaped ends ISU are passed through a pair of openings I5 and through the corresponding or aligned openings I6 in the rear flange I2. It will be noted in Figure 2 that the ends I 3b project slightly beyond the ange i2 and that the bight I4 spans the portion of the front flange II intermediate the openings I5 through which the U- shaped portions of the tine members extend.

When the tines have been assembled in the cross head as mentioned, they are anchored in such position by passing a wire Il between the rear flange I2 and the looped ends of the tines formed by the bights I3b. The wires or rods I1 can be held in position, if desired, by welding,

although it has been found not necessary to so attach the rods to the flange I2 provided the rod fits securely between the flange and the bights lh. The rod I1 prevents dislodgment of the tines in a forward direction, while the bights I 4 prevent rearward movement of the tines with reference to the cross head III.

As will be noted, each tine is of U-shape, the tine proper i301, constituting one arm of the U, while the portion Isc constitutes a short arm of the U, which arms are iiexibly connected by the respective bights |313. When the rake is used the arm or tines i3d can flex upwardly within the recesses I5 from the bights |31) and thus the tines do not tend to bend and become deformed at the points where they pass through the front flange il as would be the case were the openings I5 of a size just large enough to receive the tines.

The upper ends of the slots I5 as shown in Figure 3, are somewhat enlarged at their upper ends to accommodate limited lateral movement of the tines during use of the rake. The rake is very satisfactory in raking leaves, grass, etc., from a lawn, or in removing accumulated leaves from bushes.

The handle IB may be attached to the cross head by any approved means, but preferably by a ferrule I9 provided with lugs 20 which pass through openings in the cross head I0. The ferrule I9 is substantially semi-circular in cross section, as shown in Figure 4, and the end of the handle I8 is provided with a at face I8a which rests on the top surface of the crosshead Il). The forward end of the handle is provided with a slot 2| which enables the same to be placed into the position shown in Figure 1. A bolt 22 passes through the ferrule and the top face of the crosshead and through a washer 23. The lower end of the threaded bolt is provided with a nut 24 whereby the ferrule I9 can be tightened down against the end of the handle to clamp the same firmly in position. When the nut is removed it will be seen that the ferrule can also be removed.

It is thus possible to ship the rake headsV packed in flat packages and the ferrule and handles in separate packages, if desired.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except so as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rake comprising a cross head provided with front and rear anges provided with aligned openings therethroughj tines formedin integral pairs of U-shape extending through the openings of said iianges, and means cooperating with said rear ilange and passing through each of the tines at the rear endsthereof for restraining forward displacement of the tines.

Y2. A rake comprising a cross head provided Y with front and rear flanges provided with aligned vertically elongated openings, tines in said opene ingsformed in integralpairsof U-shapehaving the base thereof foldedtoward the free ends of the tines, the connecting bight of said Vfolded portions of said tines being arranged tok span the' space ,between two adjacent openings of said front flange to prevent rearward movement of* the respective tines,Y and meansgon kthe rear flange for restraining forward displacement of "Said tines with respect to said cross head.

3. A rake comprising a transverse head pro-y vided with front and rear anges, said flanges having aligned tine receiving openings therein, wire tines formed in integral pairs of U-shape extending through said openings, having the united ends folded forwardly to provide a loop at the rear end of each tine of the pair, and means passing through said loops for retaining said tines against forwardv displacement with re spect to said head.

4. A rake comprising a cross head provided with front and rear flanges having aligned ver tical slots therein, tines formed in pairs, the rear portion of the tines of each pair being of U- shape and comprising a short arm united by an integral bight with a short arm of the other tine of the pair, said Ushaped portions of each pair of tines being disposed within adjacent aligned slots of said flanges with said bight spanning the front flange between the respective slots andv with the connected ends of the arms of each pair of tines projecting through the corresponding 

